Scaffold bracket



May 28, 1968 Filed Oct.

G. E WHITSETT 3,385,400

SCAFF OLD BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

GILBERT E WHITSETT flea 0mm ATTORNEY May 28, 1968 G. E. WHITSETT 3,385,400

SCAFF OLD BRACKET Filed Oct. 5, l96 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-IO 12 54 INVENTOR I 53 GILBERT E WHITSETT Ada-1W MA 5 Y 55 F|GJ2 28 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,385,400 SCAFFOLD BRACKET Gilbert E. Whitsett, Rte. 1, Box 659, Hermiston, Oreg. 97838 Filed Oct. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 584,570 9 Claims. (Cl. 182--150) My invention relates to a scaffold bracket of a type adapted to be supported from a scaffold and to have planks placed thereon for workmen to stand on while doing work, these devices sometimes being termed scaffold arms.

With conventional scaffold brackets of the type now in common use it is necessary, in adjusting the brackets, to first remove the plank from the brackets, then adjust the brackets by moving them to a new location on the scaffold and then replace the planks on the brackets. This takes considerable time and labor and usually results in the brackets being raised a greater amount than they would be if they were easier to adjust.

An object of my invention is to provide a scaffold bracket of simple and rugged construction which can easily be adjusted vertically in an upward direction subst-antially any desired distance without removing the planks which are supported on it.

Another object is to provide scaffold bracket means comprising a hanger bar of substantial length having means by which it can be suspended in a vertical position from a scaffold and a bracket member adapted to support planks or like staging and vertically adjustably connected with said hanger bar by ratchet type means which provides for quick and easy upward adjustment of the bracket without removing the planks which rest on it.

Further objects are to provide adjustable scaffold bracket means which is safe and dependable in use in that it will not release and drop its load and one which is not expensive to manufacture.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation showing my scaffold bracket supported from a lower section of a conventional sectional metal scaffold alongside of a partly constructed masonry wall.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, with parts 1n section, showing my scaffold bracket supported on a scaffold p FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View, with parts in section, on a larger scale than FIG. 2, showing therein a hanger bar and bracket with pawls or triggers which engage with cross pins in the hanger bar.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on broken line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on broken line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view showing th top end portion and the bottom end portion of a hanger bar and scafford post and showing devices of modified form for supporting the hanger bar from the scaffold post.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a bracket of modified form having an extensible par-t.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing other devices of modified form for supporting a hanger bar and bracket from a scaffold.

FIG. 9 is an edge view, with parts in section, taken on broken line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of another device of modified form for supporting a hanger bar and bracket from a scaffold.

Patented May 28, 1968 ice FIG. 11 is an edge view taken on broken line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a small scale plan view of the devices of FIGS. 7 to 11 showing an extension bracket positioned diagonally and supporting planks which extend into an inside corner formed by intersecting walls.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings 10 indicates, generally, a conventional metal scaffold section of rectangular shape which is usually made up of four upright corner posts 11, open at their top ends, with the two posts at each end of the section permanently secured together by horizontal end bars 12 and the two ends of the section detachably connected by side bars 12. These conventional scaffold sections are constructed in such a manner that they can be superimposed one upon another and secured together end to end to form a complete scaffold of any desired length and height. It is common practice to space these scaffolds outwardly from the work, such for instance as a masonry wall 13, and to attach brackets to the scaffolds to support planks for the workmen to stand on. The conventional brackets ordinarily used are triangular and have hooks to engage with the scaffolding 10 to hold the brackets at different desired elevations but they must be unhooked and applied at different elevations on the scaffold 10 each time they are to be adjusted and the planks which rest on these conventional brackets must be removed and then replaced each time the brackets are vertically adjusted. This tends to cause the workmen to ad just the brackets less frequently and through greater units of distance than they would if the adjustments could be made more quickly and easily. My invention makes possible quicker and easier adjustment of the brackets without removing the planks and thus encourages more frequent adjustment through smaller units of distance. This makes the work easier for the workmen and enables them to do more and better work by making it possible for them to always keep the planks on which they stand at or near the most desirable and convenient distance below the top of the work.

My bracket mechanism comprises a hanger bar 15, preferably of channel shaped cross section, which for convenience can be about six feet long and of a type having inturned edge portions 16. The hanger bar 15 is provided throughout the greater portion of its length with cross pins 17 which are rigid with the hanger bar and preferably are uniformly spaced about four inches apart. A plate 18 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the top end of the hanger bar 15 and overhangs the same and a downwardly extending hanger pin 19 is rigid with said plate 18 and is adapted to fit within the top end portion of any selected upright tubular scaffold post 11 to support the hanger bar from the post 11. The lower end of the hanger bar 15 has a U-shaped clip or holding member 20 rigidly secured thereto by plates 21' and a spacer member 21. Holding member 20 extends sidewise from hanger bar 15 in the same direction as plate 18 and is adapted to fit over a scaffold post 11 by which the hanger bar is supported and hold the lower end portion of the hanger bar 15 immovable. The spacer member 21 insures spacing for clearance purposes between hanger bar 15 and the scaffold post 11 by which it is supported.

A bracket member, indicated generally by 14, is adjustably supported by hanger bar 15. The bracket member 14 essentially comprises a normally horizontal plank supporting side part 22 and a normally vertical side part 23 rigid with one end of the side part 22. Also preferably a diagonal side part 24 extends between the outer end of side part 22 and the lower end of the side part 23. Preferably side parts 22 and 24 are of channel shaped cross section and side part 23 is formed of two parallel spaced apart metal plates or straps. Side parts 22, 23 and 24 are all welded or otherwise rigidly secured together and side part 22 serves as a support for planks 28 or like staging.

Two spaced apart U-shaped guide members 25 and 26 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bracket member 14 near the respective upper and lower ends of side plates 23. These guide members 25 and 26 extend around and are guided for longitudinal movement on the hanger bar 15. A toe plate 27 is rigid with the outer end of the horizontal side part 22 and extends above the upper surface of said part 22 and serves to prevent displacement of planks 28 on said part 22.

Two duplicate triggers or pawls 30 and 31 are carried by the bracket member 14 and positioned to engage with the cross pins 17 of the hanger bar 15 to support the bracket member 14 for quick and easy vertical adjustment relative to the bar 15. The pawls 30 and 31 extend crosswise between the upright bracket plates 23 and are provided with rigidly attached bearing sleeves 32 and 33 respectively which are pivotally mounted on bearing pins 34 and 35. Said bearing pins are rigid with the plates 23. Stop members 36 and 37, rigid with plates 23, are provided to limit swinging movement of the respective pawls 30 and 31 in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 3. Springs 38 and 39 connect between pawls 30 and 31 respectively and plates 23 and yieldingly urge the pawls against the stop members. Diagonal side part 24 protects pawls 30 and 31 from contact with objects below them.

Preferably, for simplicity and economy of manufacture, each pawl 30 and 31 is a straight metal bar with the bearing sleeve extending across it and welded to it at a location nearer to its pin engaging end so as to leave a longer and heavier end portion of the pawl extending outwardly into the open space within the bracket 14. These longer and heavier end portions of the pawls 3t) and 31 are readily accessible so that the pawls can be manually grasped and held clear of the cross pins 17 to allow the bracket 14 to be lowered on the hanger bar 15. Also the weight of the longer and heavier end portions of these pawls exerts its torque on the pawls in the same direction as the springs 38 and 39 do. Thus if a spring 38 or 39 breaks the unbalanced Weight of the pawl will ordinarily hold the pawl in a locking position relative to the cross pins 17.

The use of at least two pawls 30 and 31 is desirable to provide greater safety than one pawl would provide. Preferably the two pawls 30 and 31 are positioned so that when they are resting against the stop members 36 and 37 the distance between their pin engaging surfaces is equal to about one half the distance between the cross pins 17. This provides for adjusting the bracket 14 by increments or units of distance approximately equal to one half the distance between adjacent cross pins 17. Also it makes possible a saving in cost of construction of this device by providing a desired minimum distance unit adjustment of the bracket 14 with only about half as many cross pins as would be required if only one pawl were used.

Preferably the pin engaging ends of the pawls 30 and 31 are beveled as indicated by 40 for smoother cooperation with the cross pins 17.

Two of my brackets will ordinarily be used to support a set of one or more planks. These brackets can be adjusted upwardly by exerting a lift from above or an upward pressure from below without removing the planks. As the brackets are moved upwardly the pawls 30 and 31 click over the pins 17 and one pawl will always be in a position to engage with an adjacent pin 17 closely below it and prevent the bracket 14 from dropping a substantial distance.

The hanger pin 19 and clip 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to support the hanger bar close to but in a position slight- 1y spaced outwardly from the plane of the adjacent side of the scaffold 10 to which they are attached. This leaves a fairly wide open space or crack between the planks on the brackets 14 and planks which are usually placed on the horizontal cross bars 12 of the scaffold 10. The outward offset of the bracket 14 relative to the scaffold 10 can be eliminated and the just mentioned cracks narrowed by using hanger bar supports of the forms shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 to 12 inclusive. The supports shown in these figures position the hanger bar 15 alongside of the upright scaffold post 11 instead of outwardly therefrom. It is to be noted that the side bars 12' of the scaffold sections 10 are usually about flush with the inner sides of the upright scaffold posts 11 and therefore do not interfere with positioning the hanger bars along either side of the posts 11.

In FIG. 6 the U-shaped hanger bar support or clip 41 at the lower end of the hanger bar 15 is similar to the previously described clip 20 and is spaced from the hanger bar 15 by a spacer member 42 and it fits over a scaffold post 11 in a similar manner. However it is attached to one of the lateral sides instead of to the rear or outer side of the bar 15. At the upper end of the hanger bar 15 of FIG. 6 the previously described straight plate 18 is replaced by an L-shaped plate 43 which has a downwardly directed holding member or clip 44 of inverted U-shaped rigidly attached thereto. The clip 44 is adapted to fit over one of the horizontal end bars 12 of a scaffold 10 and suspend the hanger bar 15 alongside of an upright post 11 of the scaffold. Thus a hanger post having the scaffold attachment devices shown in FIG. 6 is supported alongside of the scaffold post 11 and the bracket carried thereby is positioned closer to the scaffold than is a bracket on a hanger bar having the attaching means shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. Usually the upper ends of the scaffold posts 11 extend a short distance above the uppermost horizontal end bar 12 so that clips of inverted U-shape, such as the clip 44, will not slip off over the upper ends of these scaffold posts even if no other post 11 rests thereon. If there is danger of a clip slipping off over the top end of a post 11 then a pin can be inserted into and extend above the top end of the post. Obviously the clips of inverted U-shape can be engaged with horizontal scaffold bars 12 below the top bars of the scaffold sections and at substantially any desired elevation on a scaffold built up of superimposed sections.

In constructing intersecting masonry walls, such for instance as those of a building, it is common practice to erect the scaffolding inside rather than outside of the building. When scaffolds are erected along intersecting walls with the end of the scaffolds set back to facilitate laying the corner portions of the walls it becomes desirable to extend at least one bracket out diagonally toward the inside corner formed by the walls to support the planks 28 near their ends so they will not overhang the brackets far enough to cause them to tip under the weight of the workmen. The bracket shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 can be angularly adjusted around a scaffold post 11 and positioned to extend diagonally at an angle, preferably in the order of about forty-five degrees, into an inside corner but when it is positioned at this incline it is not long enough to support the planks closest to walls. To take care of this need for a longer bracket I preferably construct some of the brackets so they are extensible, as shown in FIG. 7.

Said FIG. 7 shows a bracket 14' having a normally horizontal plank supporting side 22 provided with an extension bar which fits snugly and telescopically within said side 22' and can be extended far enough to reach into an inside corner and provide the required plank support. Preferably the bar 50 is of square cross section and has a toe plate 27 rigid with its outer end. Also said bar 50 has a stop member 51 of inverted T-shape rigidly attached to its under side near its inner end. The stop member 51 will contact a diagonal side part 24' of the bracket 14 and prevent the extension bar 50 from dropping out of or being completely withdrawn from the bar 22'. When the extension bar 50 is in its retracted position the bracket 14 can be used in the same manner as the previously described bracket 14.

The upper end support for the hanger bar shown in FIG. 6 does not provide for angular adjustment of said bar 15 and the bracket carried thereby around the scaffold post 11. For use along with sets of brackets having supporting means of the form shown in FIG. 6 I find it desirable to provide a number of extension brackets of the form shown in FIG. 7 carried on hanger arms which are provided with upper end supports of the modified form shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 12. These hanger arms can have lower end supports of the form shown in FIG. 6.

Also I find it desirable to provide some brackets, which can be either of the extensible or non-extensible type, carried on hanger bars having upper end supports of the form shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

The hanger bar support shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and one of the supports shown in FIG. 12 comprises a plate 52 of modified shape rigidly secured to the upper end of a hanger bar 15. The plate 52 has two downwardly opening bar engaging clips 53 and 54 of inverted U-shaped rigidly secured to its under side. The clip 53 corresponds in positioning to the clip 44 of FIG. 6 and it functions in the same manner. The clip 54 is positioned at an angle in the order of forty-five degrees relative to the clip 53 and when it is applied to a horizontal bar 12 of a scaffold, as shown in FIG. 12 it will support the hanger bar 15 and its bracket in a suitable diagonal position to extend into an inside corner formed by two intersecting walls 55 and 56. An extension bracket supported in this diagonal position will provide support for the ends of planks extending into the inside corner. The plates 52 will essentially be made right and left to take care of all conditions which will be encountered.

When an extension bracket is used so it protrudes diagonally from one corner of a scaffold, as illustrated at the left in FIG. 12, it is sometimes desirable to support another bracket, as shown at the right in FIG. 12, from an opposite corner of the same end of the scaffold and extending perpendicularly from that end of the scaffold to afford additional support for planks 28 which extend past that end of the scaffold. Neither the plate 43 of FIG. 6 or the plate 52 of FIGS. 8, 9 and 12 provide for this positioning of a bracket. To satisfy this requirement for a few brackets which can be extended perpendicularly from the end of a scaffold I attach to the upper end of each one of a limited number of hanger bars 15 a supporting plate 60 of the shape shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 and rigidly secure to said plate 60 two downwardly opening U-shaped clips -61 and 62 in positions at right angles to each other. The clip 61 corresponds in position and functions in the same manner as the clip 44 of FIG. 6. The clip 62, being at right angles to the clip 61, will support a hanger bar 15 and bracket 14 with the bracket perpendicular to the end bar 12 of the scaffold section. Obviously plates 60 will be equipped for right and left application to scaffold corners.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose preferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a sectional scaffold having upright and horizontal bars; of a tubular hanger bar of substantial length having a longitudinally extending opening along one side; a hanger bar suspending device rigid with the upper end portion of said hanger bar adapted to be engaged with a bar of said scaffold and suspend said hanger bar from said scaffold; a hanger bar holding device rigid with the lower end portion of said hanger bar adapted to engage with a bar of said scaffold and maintain said hanger bar in an upright position; a bracket member having a normally vertical side part positioned close to the open side of said hanger bar and parallel with said hanger bar and having a normally horizontal plank supporting side part rigid with the upper end portion of said normally vertical side part and extending transversely therefrom; two spaced apart guide sleeves rigid with said bracket adjacent the respective upper and lower ends of the normally vertical side part thereof and slidably engaging said hanger bar adjustably mounting the bracket on the hanger bar; and releasable ratchet devices interposed between said bracket member and said, hanger bar normally locking said bracket member against downward movement relative to said hanger bar, said bracket member being freely adjustably movable upwardly relative to said hanger bar.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the central portion of the bracket is open and unobstructed and the pawls have end portions of substantial length extending into said open and unobstructed central bracket portion into positions where they are readily accessible for manual release of the pawls.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the bracket has a third side part extending diagonally between the outer end portion of said normally horizontal bracket part and the lower end portion of said normally vertical bracket .part, said diagonal side part shielding the end portions of said pawls within said bracket against contact with objects below said bracket.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the hanger bar suspending device includes a part rigidly attached to and extending transversely from the upper end portion of the hanger bar, and a downwardly opening clip of inverted U-shape rigid with said transversely extending part and adapted to fit over a horizontal bar of the scaffold.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the hanger bar is pivotally movable at least part way around the scaffold post adjacent which it is supported, and a longitudinally extensible plank supporting member is adjustably connected with the normally horizontal side part of the bracket.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which an extension bar is telescopically connected with the normally horizontal side part of the bracket member and in which the hanger bar supporting device includes a plate rigidly attached to and extending transversely from the upper end portion of the hanger bar and two downwardly opening clips of inverted =U-shape rigid with said plate and positioned at a divergent angle in the order of fortyfive degrees relative to each other, said clips selectively engaging horizontal bars of the scaffold in supporting the hanger bar and bracket in two different angular positions relative to the scaffold.

7. The combination with a sectional scaffold having upright and horizontal bars; of a tubular hanger bar of substantial length having a longitudinally extending opening along one side; a plurality of spaced apart pins rigid with and extending across said hanger bar; a hanger bar suspending device rigid with the upper end portion of said hanger bar adapted to engage with a bar of said scaffold and suspend said hanger bar from said scaffold; a hanger bar holding device rigid with the lower end portion of said hanger bar adapted to engage with a bar of said scaffold and maintain said hanger bar in an upright position; a bracket member having a normally vertical side part positioned close to the open side of said hanger bar and parallel to said hanger bar and having a normally horizontal plank supporting side part rigid with the upper end portion of said normally vertical side part and extending transversely therefrom; two spaced apart guide sleeves rigid with said bracket adjacent the respective upper and lower ends of the normally vertical side part thereof and slidably engaging said hanger bar adjustably mounting the bracket on the hanger bar; at least two pawls pivotally supported from the normally upright side part of said bracket member and extending through the opening in the hanger bar and having end portions positioned to engage with said cross pins and lock said bracket against downward movement relative to said hanger bar, said pawls being freely movable upwardly past said cross pins by upward movement of said bracket.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the cross pins of the hanger bar are uniformly spaced a predetermined distance apart and the two pawls have pin engaging parts which are spaced approximately half as far apart as the cross pins, whereby the bracket is adjustable by increments equal to approximately one half the distance of spacing of the cross pins.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the hanger bar supporting device includes a plate rigidly attached to and extending transversely from the upper end portion of the hanger bar and two downwardly opening clips or inverted U-shape rigid with said plate and positioned at a divergent angle in the order of ninety degrees relative to each other, said clips selectively engaging horizontal bars of the scaffold in supporting the hanger bar and bracket in two different angular positions substantially at right angles to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,261,907 11/1941 Vecker et al 248-235 2,612,413 9/1952 Polak 248-245 2,790,684 4/1957 Sprinkel 182-132 2,940,716 6/1960 Harlan 248245 3,245,495 4/1966 Wells 182-179 3,270,997 9/1966 Gethrnann 248235 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A SECTIONAL SCAFFOLD HAVING UPRIGHT AND HORIZONTAL BARS; OF A TUBULAR HANGER BAR OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING OPENING ALONG ONE SIDE; A HANGER BAR SUSPENDING DEVICE RIGID WITH THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID HANGER BAR ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED WITH A BAR OF SAID SCAFFOLD AND SUSPEND SAID HANGER BAR FROM SAID SCAFFOLD; A HANGER BAR HOLDING DEVICE RIGID WITH THE LOWER END PORTION OF SAID HANGER BAR ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH A BAR OF SAID SCAFFOLD AND MAINTAIN SAID HANGER BAR IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION; A BRACKET MEMBER HAVING A NORMALLY VERTICAL SIDE PART POSITIONED CLOSE TO THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID HANGER BAR AND PARALLEL WITH SAID HANGER BAR AND HAVING A NORMALLY HORIZONTAL PLANK SUPPORTING SIDE PART RIGID WITH THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID NORMALLY VERTICAL SIDE PART AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREFROM; TWO SPACED APART GUIDE SLEEVES RIGID WITH SAID BRACKET ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF THE NORMALLY VERTICAL SIDE PART THEREOF AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID HANGER BAR ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING THE BRACKET ON THE HANGER BAR; AND RELEASABLE RATCHET DEVICES INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BRACKET MEMBER AND SAID HANGER BAR NORMALLY LOCKING SAID BRACKET MEMBER AGAINST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID HANGER BAR, SAID BRACKET MEMBER BEING FREELY ADJUSTABLY MOVABLE UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID HANGER BAR. 